The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1887-12-21
Our Schools.

II Is gratifying 70 the friends Of esineation
thar the term Of common schools i extended
10 six, instead Of five months. II j. not in
harmony. however. with the views Of some
of cur people. including some Of our diTee-
tors. such as still think the three Rs
= Readin Ritin and 'Rifhrnefics are sufi-
cient for our boys and girls IN the country
The soions. Of somerset county, who repre-
sentaG Us in tile halls OF State Legislation.
/ are to be fully exoneraIed from any censure
in this innovation, for il was through them
7. that We have the increased term II is due
TO the edueationsi sentiment of this broad
Commonwealth, sentiment OF sufficient
power and strength TO overcome the old fessy
element Under the old law we had eniy
one hundred days. ont Of three hundred and
sixiy-five, 10 esincare our children in the
csmmon schoots--the only educational adj
yantages that the majority Of them ever
receive. How strange it seems to Us that
thar there should be any opposition from in
telligent men TO extend The term just twenty
days longer. Bat our desire for years has
been graiihe,l it iengthening the term, aud
better results vii be attained We are glad
too 70 see lai the prophecies, Of not few.
have mosi gnally failed-that the wages
for six mfallis would be no more than tor
live months Of tie previous year The sala-
ries for good teachers have always, a. a rule.
been too low, but in many Of the districts
no less IS paid per month now than last
year. notwithstanding the increased term.
with higher standard of qualification de-
manded by the newly elected county super
intendant. erowding out those of inferior
qualification, and employing only the best
material We are hooking for good results
in school work aud better remuneration tor
efficiency and faiihfulness. But this forward
step demands better facilities for preparation
of teachers for their important trust In
country districts, the normal school is an
important Eictor-the best We have Al pres
eai- For the time being. at least, ii viii not
De substituted by anything better, but we
think the term of our home Normal ought
also be increased Eight weeks is too short
time 10 do the work the importance Of the
cause demands. We should haye twelve
weeks instead The increased term of COM
mon schools demand their opening earlier
than formerly. hence. Normals in the after
summer bee me almost impraetieIble. even
an eight week term. Our country schools
should open sufficiently early 50 as TO allow
their close in the last week Of March, and
our Normais open IN April into term Of no
less than twelve weeks. if possible. Looking
al the subject in all its bearings, il seems to [
demand that Nornals be held in the spring
and bot IN the alser part of the summer. 1t /
Is q question, too. whether or not. there are |
too many so-called NormaIs. Would not
fewer schools more ably conducted, give
better resuhs2 We throw out these few
hinls in view OF the fact that in lew days /
the teachers and friends Of common school |
eiueatiou IN Somerset .county win meet IN /
Convention, where thoughts akin to these I
viii more or less engage our attention.
FRIESp or COMMON SgHooL EDucsToS